CONFERENTIA EPISCOPALIS MELITENSIS
Curia Archiepiscopalis,
Floriana (Malta)

STATUTE

1 By virtue of the Decree of the 21st June 1993, the Maltese Episcopal Conference established a Course of Studies in Canonical Marriage Cases Jurisprudence and Procedure under the auspices and the direction of the Metropolitan Tribunal of Malta, with the annexed Statute. This Statute is being hereby revised to meet the present day needs.

2 The aim of the Course is to provide such basic formation as may be deemed indispensable for the performance of the various functions in the ecclesiastical Tribunals of the Maltese Province, which cater for the help, representation, legal defence and hearing of the parties and witnesses to marriage nullity cases.

3.1 The Course will be directed and run by a Commission formed of a Director and two other members nominated by the President of the Maltese Episcopal Conference for a period of three years.

3.2 The legal representation of the Commission will be vested in the Director.

3.3 The Commission will have the power and the authority to draw up bye-laws within the terms, as interpretation, and in furtherance, of these statutes.

4 The persons eligible to apply for admission to the course will:

i. enjoy a tertiary level of education or equivalent;
ii. be of good moral conduct.

5 The Commission may from time to time decide that a numerus clausus be imposed on admittance to the course for a particular year.

6 The duration of the Course will be of four study units, spread over two academic years. At least one month before a call for applications to admission is published, the Commission will determine the Curriculum of the Course.

7 In furtherance of its basic rights and duties, the Commission will have the power to:

i. determine the minimum number of lectures a person may attend in order to qualify to the final examination;

ii. organize such tests, practical exercises or examinations, including a final examination leading to the diploma, as it deems fit and proper;

iii. determine the fees and remuneration payable to or by the Commission;

iv. issue certificates of attendance and diplomas attesting to success in the final examination.

Given at the Archbishop’s Curia, in Floriana, 6th May 2003

+ Joseph Mercieca
Archbishop of Malta

Rev Joseph Magro
Secretary President of the Maltese Episcopal Conference